Church on Sunday Saint Eulalie, Genille

Sound and light at Tours cathedral

A good weekend to be in Southern Touraine in the Loire Valley

This weekend is a good time to be in Southern Touraine. Loches is the place to be, as this weekend as well as having their normal Saturday market there is their free music festival 'Loches en Voix'. We have visited this a few times and it always throws up entertainment by the barrow load and a few surprises. There is also the 'spectacular' at Ciran which is also on both Friday and Saturdy evenings 

FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL:

"LOCHES EN VOIX"

On the Friday 28th and Saturday 29th of July 2017, the 7th edition of the festival LOCHES EN VOIX mixes musical genres again ...

For two days, songs from the 30s, blues, swing gipsy, Balkan songs, pop Rock, or Occitan polyphonies will resonate in the superb setting of the public garden, which will host most concerts, in the town centre, on the market and at Saint-Antoine church.

Lovers of good music and conviviality, be there!

Full programme here:

http://www.ville-loches.fr/festival-loches-en-voix-article-4-34-67.html

The small village of Ciran where you will be captivated by the performances put on by the village in their annual  'spectacular' show, This year sees a new production being put on for the first time under the banner of 'Alors, on Danse' and if previous years are anything to go by it will indeed be 'spectacular'!

Brocantes,vide-greniers this weekend 29th/30th July in the Loire Valley

La Celle-Guenand

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 30th July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

AZAY LE RIDEAU  Brocante de l'ile *

BLERE  Vide Grenier ***

BRAYE SOUS FAYE  Vide-greniers **

LA CELLE GUENAND  Fête des Métiers et Brocante *****

LE LIEGE  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

  

SAINTE CATHERINE DE FIERBOIS  Brocante Vide-greniers ?

THENEUIL  Fête Villageoise – Brocante **

Cher (18)

Indre (36)

Loir-et-Cher(41)

Loiret (45)

Maine-et-Loire(49)

A good day to visit Loches in the Loire Valley

Wednesday is market day (morning) at Loches in Southern Touraine. The town is the jewel in the crown of this beautiful part of Centre-Val de Loire here, especially on market day, you get a true taste of France and not only in gastronomical terms. Its medieval history is evident everywhere you look and modernity has not interfered too much with its rich past.  

Take a walk around its character filled streets and soak up the atmosphere but be sure to visit the public park and take in its history as a view.

Head for Ciran this weekend

If you are in Southern Touraine this weekend (even if you're not) you should head to the small village of Ciran where you will be captivated by the performances put on by the village in their annual  'spectacular' show, This year sees a new production being put on for the first time under the banner of 'Alors, on Danse' and if previous years are anything to go by it will indeed be 'spectacular'!

Reflecting on other rivers of Centre-Val de Loire,rivers Aigronne/Claise in Le Grand Pressigny

Loire Valley church - Montsoreau

Saint Pierre de Rest, Montsoreau,Pays de Loire

More detail here

The hollyhocks of Montsoreau in the Loire Valley.

Montsoreau, sitting on the banks of the river Loire is 'one of the most beautiful villages in France', it is enhanced at this time of year by an abundance of hollyhocks which make walking its narrow streets an lane even more pleasurable.

Le-Grand-Pressigny...promoting live music

The people of Le-Grand-Pressigny continue their commitment  to supporting live music this weekend with concerts at two venues over the weekend.

Brocantes,vide-greniers this weekend 22nd/23rd July in the Loire Valley

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 22nd July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

MONTLOUIS SUR LOIRE  Brocante des Bords de Loire 2017 ***

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 23rd July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

CHINON  Vide-greniers fbg Saint Jacques ?

CRISSAY SUR MANSE  Vide Grenier ?

LA CHAPELLE SUR LOIRE  Vide Grenier ***

ROUZIERS DE TOURAINE  Brocante Vide-greniers *****

  

TOURS  Brocante BD Béranger ***

Cher (18)

Indre (36)

Loir-et-Cher(41)

Loiret (45)

Maine-et-Loire(49)

Loire Valley markets

We have updated our 'Loire Valley markets' page...check it out!

Chateau at La Guerche over the sunflowers

Boats on the river Loire at Montsoreau

Chateau de Montsoreau on the river Loire

Read more here

Church on Sunday,Loire Valley church,Saint Aubin in Turquant.

More images  here

More Loire Valley sunflowers...

Make no apology for showing more sunflowers, this time on the D760 on the road to L'Île-Bouchard

Brocantes,vide-greniers this weekend 14th/16th July in the Loire Valley

 

Brocantes / vide greniers Friday 14th July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

DRUYE  Vide-greniers ****

LA MEMBROLLE SUR CHOISILLE  Fête Nationale du 14 Juillet ***

LIGUEIL  Brocante Vide-greniers **

LUSSAULT SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ***

RICHELIEU  Antiquités Brocante **

•

TOURS  Vide-grenier du 14 Juillet léo Lagrange Tours *

VERNEUIL SUR INDRE  Fête du Cochon Grillé - Brocante Vide-greniers **

VILLEBOURG  Vide-greniers *

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 16th July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

ANTOGNY LE TILLAC  Fête de l'été Brocante **

AVON LES ROCHES  Brocante du Comité de Jumelage ***

CHINON  Brocante Mensuelle**

LE LOUROUX  Foire à L’ail Brocante, Vide-greniers **

SAINT NICOLAS DE BOURGUEIL  Vide-greniers **

  

SONZAY   Brocante, Vide-greniers ***

Cher (18)

Indre (36)

Loir-et-Cher(41)

Loiret (45)

Maine-et-Loire(49)

Orleans...the regions capital

Check out our page

What do you do when it rains in the Loire Valley?

Image credit  Nicole Crawford

This spell of unusually wet summer weather had us thinking, what do you do in a region that is best appreciated in sunny weather when it rains?

Chateaux can of course be viewed internally with Cheverny as a perfect example of a well furnished option. Chenonceau and Villandry whose exteriors are a major attraction offer a great inside experience. There is also the smaller but perfectly formed Chateau de Cande with its 'royal' history. One  chateau slightly off the beaten track but worth a view is Château d’Oiron  which is a delight for those seeking something a little quirkier...a gallery of curiosities.

Museums, if that's  your thing, then visiting the city of Tours is a good option with its diverse choice, There are also less obvious choices like the eclectic 'Musee Dufresne' or the tank museum ,the largest in Europe, in Saumur.

Go visit one of the beautiful cathedrals or churches  ... spoilt for choice really!

‘FÊTE NATIONALE’ where to find the fireworks in Touraine.

ABILLY – Over the river from ‘Ile de la Claise’ – 13^th July

AMBOISE – Over the Loire from ‘l’Île d’Or’ – 14^th July

ATHEE-SUR-CHER – Parc de la Chesnaye – 14^th July

AZAY-SUR-CHER – Salle Jacques Revaux – 13^th July

BETZ-LE-CHATEAU – Ferrières-Larçon – 14^th July

CHAMBON – Place de la Mairie – 13^th July

CHAMBRAY-LES-TOURS – Lac René Messon – 13^th July

CHARNIZAY – 13^th July

CHINON – From the south bank of la Vienne – 14^th July

CUSSAY  – 13^th July
DESCARTES - 14^th July

LANGEAIS – Espace Alingavia – 13^th July

LA GUERCHE – 13^th July

LA TOUR-SAINT-GELIN – 13^th July

LE GRAND PRESSIGNY – Pre du Grand Moulin, Ave Andre Theuriet – 14^th July

LIGUEIL – Prairie des Dauphins – 14^th July

LOCHES – Stade Leclerc – 14^th July

MANTHELAN – 13^th July

PAULMY – Village – 14^th July

PREUILLY-SUR-CLAISE – Plan d’eau – 14^th July

ROCHECORBON – 13^th July

SAINT-CYR-SUR-LOIRE – Parc de la Perraudière – 13^th July

SAINT-MARTIN-LE-BEAU – 13^th July

SEPMES – Cour du Château – 14^th July

TOURS – Over the Loire from  ‘l’Île Simon’ – 14^th July

The beautiful Montresor and a walk in the dark

Montresor, listed as  'one of the most beautiful villages in France' (Les-Plus-Beaux-Villages-de-France)  is well worth a visit anytime but during the months of July and August you can also experience a night walk accompanied by a light and sound show.

 

From 22:00 ‘til midnight

Website

Church for Sunday...St. Vincent de Paul Church in Blois

If you visit Blois be sure and pop into the church of  St. Vincent de Paul...beautiful

See more here

More sunflowers...

This time just outside Barrou in Southern Touraine

Brocantes,vide-greniers this weekend 8th/9th Julyin the Loire Valley

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 8th July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

BRIDORE  Fête du Plan d'eau *

CHEMILLE SUR INDROIS  Fête du lac Vide-greniers ?

LOCHES  Brocante ?

  

VILLAINES LES ROCHERS  Vide-greniers Semi Nocturne?

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 9th July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

CHANNAY SUR LATHAN  Vide-greniers ***

CHATEAU RENAULT  Brocante de L’arche ***

LUZE  Luzé en Fête ***

VILLANDRY  Vide-greniers ***

Other departments: Source : http://brocabrac.fr/

Cher (18)

Indre (36)

Loir-et-Cher(41)

Loiret (45)

Maine-et-Loire(49)

Reflecting on other rivers of Centre-Val de Loire, La Creuse at Yzeures-sur-Creuse

Head to Loches - it's market day

Today is (morning) market day in Loches

If you can't make it then you can enjoy their evening market tomorrow night.

Favourite place in the Loire Valley?

If  you ask visitors to France's Loire Valley what their favourite place was you will invariably get a whole set of different answers as with so  much diversity on offer everyone's tastes will be met.  

For our last guests at 'Les Balcons' in Le Grand-Pressigny, who have visited the region many times it is Chinon which draws them back. We can understand the attraction with all its history and the charm of its riverside location.

The sunflowers begin to show there faces here in the Loire Valley...

Great time to visit the Loire Valley and enjoy the sunflowers...



These ones captured at La Guerche in Southern Touraine today.